Patrik
de Bana

Benois de la Danse nominee

Born in Hamburg by a German mother and a Nigerian father, Patrick de Bana studied at the school of Hamburg Ballett (directed by John Neumeier and Truman Finney), before he was engaged at the Béjart Ballet Lausanne in 1987, where he shortly after got promoted to a principal dancer. He left Béjart Ballet Lausanne in 1992 in order to join the Compania Nacional de Danza of Spain (directed by Nacho Duato). As a principal dancer he stayed there over ten years. In his repertoire are choreographers such as: Duato, Kylian, Naharin, Forsythe, Ek etc.
2003 he creates his own company, the “Nafas Dance Company“. By the Generalitad of Valencia, Patrick de Bana received the award of “Best male dancer“ and his „Nafas Dance Company” got awarded in „Best dance peformance”. Patrick de Bana choreographed and peformed in the movies Iberia (2004) and Fados (2006), both directed by the well known Spanish film director Carlos Saura. One year later Patrick de Bana toured around Europe with the world famous fado singer Mariza.
With “Nafas Dance Company” and as a guest artist Patrick de Bana travelled throughout many countries around the world: Turkey, Holland, Cuba, Israel, Colombia, Japan, South and North-America, Australia, New Zealand and more. He also performed as a guest artist with the famous flamenco dancer Eva La Yerbabuena and Russian star dancer Faroukh Ruzimatov. Rich of all these impressions and experiences, more and more he is creating numerous pieces all over the world with different companies and dancers. This variety is significant for Patrick de Bana himself and his creations. His huge variety in all different kind of branches gives this very rare and special attribute for his oeuvre as choreographer.

In the meanwhile he is continuing his cooperation with star dancers such as Manuel Legris, Agnes Létestu, Aurélie Dupont, Friedeman Vogel, Mizuka Ueno, Farouk Ruzimatov, Eva la Yerbabuena and others.
Among the most important his creations are Creatures, The Picture of… (2008), Encounter (2009), a male duet Nefes (for Manuel Legris), White Shadows (also for Manuel Legris and himself as guest artists), and other.
He worked with Introdans Company, Netherlands, Summer Dance festival of Cattolica in Italy, Tokyo Ballet, Istanbul State Ballet, National Ballet of China, Wiener Staatsballett and Istanbul traditional dance company “Shaman Dance Group”.

Being invited in May 2011 by Nathalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev he took part in the International Dance Gala — “Tour de force“ in Los Angeles (Orange County).

Patrick de Bana is currently working on several different future projects. Among these projects he is working with Ilze Liepa and Kremlin Ballet, Moscow „Cleopatra” as well as with the famous traditional, spiritual composer from Iran, Kayhan Kalhor and a group of international dancers and Persian musicians.

Gallery